I'm not a drama freak, I can really see through the script

Chapter 210, The True Protagonist, Iron-Blooded Marquis Zhu Wushi!

As stable as Mount Tai.

This is the Hong Kong entertainment circle.

TVB's evaluation of Guo Jin'an.

In the joint project "The World's Number One".

He is the only male lead.

Audiences still prefer humor, and apart from Gui Haiyi Dao who managed to steal some screen time, Duan Tianya had no competitive edge whatsoever.

He has completely lost his legitimacy as the protagonist. Whenever his storyline is broadcast, the online ratings tell everyone in a very humorous way that Duan Tianya himself is even more ridiculous than Cheng Shifei. He got Guo Jing's script, but he's in the position of a clown.
"Sigh, when we were filming, I didn't feel like your position was that stable."

At this moment, Ye Xuan clicked her tongue as she looked at the data. It seemed that Guo Jin'an was the rightful protagonist in the main character group.

The ratings have already given us the answer.

The answer seems obvious: the true protagonist is none other than Cheng Shifei.
Guo Jin'an originally felt that he deserved the position of the true male lead.

After all, the three male leads have roughly equal screen time, so naturally, the most capable should take the lead. It's fair and just whoever is stronger. As for Wang Jing giving Guo Jin'an more autonomy in writing the script, that's because he has the ability to control the script. His previous scripts have proven his ability, which is why he can write his own scenes.
"TVB also contributed a lot."

Although the internal strife at TVB is severe, with even a small television station like TVB capable of dividing itself into five major factions, there are undeniable aspects to it.

Actors of Guo Jin'an's caliber are unaffected. They possess their own "purity" and, without any background, do not need to rely on any faction within TVB. On the contrary, TVB still needs Guo Jin'an as a pillar of the station.

Since Gu Tianle retired from acting and ran away after "A Step into the Past", he really can't afford to lose face for actors of Guo Jin'an's caliber. He doesn't play by any factions, and he can still live a very comfortable life.

The freedom that absolute power brings allows him to do whatever he wants.

But at this moment, Guo Jin'an felt a little uneasy.

Even though there are no enemies left, the resources invested in "The World's Finest" have yielded positive feedback, and TVB is already preparing to celebrate, proving its superiority in the Chinese-speaking world.

Now that everything has been proven and the champagne can be opened, what else is there to worry about?
It shouldn't have been there originally.

It wasn't there until a second ago.

Until that character appeared.

The appearance of the character named Iron-Blooded Marquis Zhu Wushi.

No, this character has already appeared. The one standing in front of us now is not Zhu Wushi, the Iron-Blooded Marquis, but Zhu Tiedan, who wants to become emperor.

If he can be emperor, why can't I?!

He was not controlled by treacherous officials.

This emperor was the one who manipulated the treacherous officials.

In fact, Guo Jin'an had already noticed this problem during filming. Zhu Wushi was an ambitious man and a villain, which was true, while Cao Zhengchun was a loyal minister and a villain, which was also true.

However, Cao Zhengchun's loyalty was only to the emperor, and the emperor only trusted Cao Zhengchun. As for his persecution of loyal officials and his indulgence of his Eastern Depot agents in committing evil deeds, that is also true.

Guo Jin'an was thinking about this question while filming the final battle.

This emperor's throne is truly meant for that ambitious Shenhou.

For the common people.

It might not be a bad thing.

good thing.

Even he, the protagonist, was pondering this idea.

What will the audience think?

Bad people, good people.

It always depends on the perspective.

From the perspective of the emperor's camp and the perspective of loyal ministers, Zhu Wushi was definitely a big bad guy.

But I'm not on the emperor's side!

I fucking bastard.

They are ordinary people!

"No, why can't Zhu Wushi be emperor? Zhu Di became emperor, so why can't I, Zhu Wushi, be emperor?"

Wang Jinsong firmly believes so.

From his point of view.

Zhu Wushi was extremely immoral towards people in the martial arts world. Every single one of those well-known figures in the martial arts world had been sucked dry by him.

But for ordinary people, the fact that they are enjoying the drug isn't necessarily a bad thing.

After all, with weapons in hand, the desire to kill naturally arises.

Those江湖人 (jianghu people) were by no means benevolent to ordinary people.

Another strategy was to subdue the Japanese families, using both kindness and force to bring them under our control, thus making good use of their resources.

You insist on saying he did something bad.

It seems that even the worst situation is for the emperor.

But what good is an emperor anyway?
It can be said that, throughout the entire process, Zhu Wushi's rebellion did not diminish his goodwill much. On the contrary, it made people feel that he simply stormed into the palace and seized the emperor's throne.

It's definitely not a bad thing.

It could even be described as wonderful, truly wonderful.

"The main characters in the script are indeed a trio."

At this moment, Chen Bing murmured, "But for us viewers, how come the main character is Zhu Wushi?"

This feeling is exceptionally strong.

Even if we discard our biases towards Li Xuan.

It was exceptionally strong!

"You don't seem very surprised."

"This situation was within my expectations."

At that moment, Wang Jing was looking at the computer screen, checking the feedback on the internet immediately.

Keep it up, Divine Marquis!

Many comments are saying the same thing, cheering on this villain.

Although Wang Jing had somewhat anticipated this situation, he was still shocked. He hadn't even considered this possibility when the script was being filmed.

It wasn't until Li Xuan brought the character to life.

Both the screenwriter and the executive producer felt that...

Something seems off.

I set up a righteous character.

It seems like he's become the villain.

"The biggest flaw in The World's Number One is that it puts Zhu Wushi in the position of a villain. He is vicious and cruel. He is willing to sacrifice even his adopted daughter for the throne. He is a great villain. I know how the screenwriter created him. He must have genuinely constructed him as a villain because the screenwriter's side is Wang Jing, who is on the side of the emperor and the martial arts people. Although he is the king of bad movies, he is also a beneficiary of this society and a person with power, influence and money."

“If he hadn’t portrayed Zhu Wushi so realistically, I would have overlooked some ideas and become immersed in the good guys and bad guys he created. But now I can’t do that. I can’t ignore the sense of realism that Zhu Wushi brings.”

“I am an ordinary citizen, not royalty, nor a martial arts practitioner. I am merely a price to pay in Cao Cao's eyes. I am a soldier sent to my death, a simple and loyal subject.”

"Even though I knew that Zhu Wushi, as the villain, would ultimately lose."

"But I still want to say this: seize that damned emperor's throne!"

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

The uncrowned protagonist.

The very act of defining the protagonist's position constitutes a lack of freedom for the viewer.

His popularity skyrocketed, and even when he ultimately failed and died, his popularity remained high.

"This is the first time I've seen a villainous character whose popularity skyrocket even after defeating the main character."

Wei Ming was so shocked that he questioned the meaning of life.

How tragic and beautiful was Shangguan Haitang's death.

The popularity of this character is evident and tangible.

Zhu Wushi's order to Piaoxue to kill her only stirred up a huge wave of hatred.

Of course, it did attract a lot of hatred at the beginning.

However, this hatred only made Zhu Wushi's character more complicated, but did not make the character more hateful.

On the contrary, the love-hate relationship only adds to the protagonist's charm.

"The result was that the three of us argued for a long time, and good grief, in the end, the main character wasn't even one of the three of us. Is this really necessary?"

Ma Jia murmured.

But after reaching this conclusion, there was a strange sense of exhilaration.

A lose-lose situation for all three parties.

Nobody should win.

This actually made her feel even more exhilarated, with a sense of schadenfreude.

"Damn it, if I don't win, you guys shouldn't win either, hahahaha! All the effort and resources everyone put in have been wasted!"

Li Yapeng laughed three times, then started crying. The feeling of being both happy and unhappy made him feel uncomfortable all over.

There are reasons for being happy, and there are reasons for being unhappy.

In short, I feel a bit uncomfortable.

There's a disgusting feeling of being raped and then having to shout that it feels good.

But I just couldn't help it, I couldn't help feeling the combination of joy and sadness.
damn it.

This time, the villains were the biggest winners.

We've won so much!

They've really won big.

All the resources were poured into him.

I can only console myself that at least I'm from mainland China, so this isn't too much of a loss.

At least the wasted resources were absorbed internally.

"The glory of being able to portray a villain as a hero, and a supporting character as a protagonist, that's what acting skills are, that's what character creation is. That's acting skills, that's character creation."

At this moment, Zhang Guoli let out a deep sigh. It was truly painful.

From a personal perspective, he admires Li Xuan because his acting skills are truly outstanding, capable of completely reversing the public's opinion of a character.

The ability to completely reverse character roles is truly terrifying.

Incredibly talented.

He could imagine that the script was indeed going to make Zhu Wushi a villain, but Li Xuan turned the impossible into reality, making the character turn the tide from his perspective.

This is strength.

This is potential acting ability.

Zhang Mo thought he was going to get scolded, and had already habitually stuck his head out, ready to take it.

But it didn't.

He didn't even want to criticize his own son, Zhang Mo.

I feel that this matter is meaningless because the difference in talent has become so great that it is difficult to see with the naked eye. It has become a world of difference. There is no point in scolding your son anymore.

Criticizing him won't help him improve to the same extent as Li Xuan, so it's better not to worry unnecessarily.

"The previous resources were used to flatter and kill."

At this moment, Zhang Guoli's expression became complicated. He had invested a lot of resources in the project, and he was worried that he might end up losing more than he gained.

It shouldn't be possible, right?
When this idea came to mind.
"It should be fine. It's just one role; what can it prove? It proves nothing."

My son, you look so pathetic.

Do you know what you look like right now?

You are trying very hard to convince yourself right now.

She tried very hard to convince herself that Li Xuan was not a good match.

"Look at how much he's bragging about it now, but the ratings are only 4.7 points, while ours are at least 10 points or higher. So what if he has a good reputation? It's completely meaningless!"

Zhang Guoli remained silent, only able to look at his son, trying hard to convince himself.

Convince yourself that you have won.

Then Zhang Guoli slowly said.

"What do you know? Our works are all exclusively broadcast on CCTV, but this one, 'The World's Number One,' is being broadcast on multiple TV stations at the same time."

Because of the chaotic management of this work, the publicity and broadcasting were all a mess, and many TV stations were broadcasting it.

Despite the chaotic broadcast, it still managed to achieve a 4.8 rating.

This result.

When he discovered it.

It's too late.

A viewership rating of 4.8 is quite good on its own.

However, with so many TV stations, an average viewership rating of 4.8 is already incredibly high.

It belongs to the top tier of martial arts dramas, not to mention that it's an original martial arts drama.

The word "original".

It's nothing like Jin Yong's martial arts novels.

Originality is the most powerful weapon.

Li Xuan was immediately thrust into the eye of the storm.

As the uncrowned male protagonist.

It's not just the popularity of this drama.

Those publicity campaigns that were originally riding on Li Xuan's coattails have also started to exert their efforts.

"While it's not as amazing as they claim, it's certainly not some artificially hyped up."

"Sure, I wonder which family's young master he is. He has good resources and ability. Just don't make your publicity team so exaggerated next time, otherwise it's easy to make people feel disgusted."

"At first, I was just a casual observer and even disliked him a bit, but now I really don't dislike him anymore. The character of Iron-Blooded Marquis Zhu Wushi is really well played, and I really like him."

Public opinion on the internet is coming in waves.

Li Xuan at this moment.

And so we welcomed these responses.

The negative publicity and traffic have gradually been reversed.

Ultimately, this industry is still a place where ability reigns supreme. So what if Stephen Chow has a bad temper and Jackie Chan is a womanizer?

They always just laugh off those who smear them.

Even in the end, you still have to say thank you.

Thank you for the buzz and promotion you've given me.

And when Li Xuan returned to school, his classmates' attitudes were also the same.

That's awesome.

Zhu ignored the character.

Awesome.

He truly shook the protagonist despite being a supporting character.

"So you shouldn't always think that your character's status is too low, or that you can't bring out the charm in your performance. Charm isn't something you can just talk about; it's something you have to act out."

Wang Jinsong felt that Li Xuan was a vivid and engaging lesson.

It is more than enough to educate students about what a real role is.

What is true purity?

A capable person can find a way out for their role.

Li Xuan is one of those people who has found a way out for his roles.

“Indeed, I think the eldest brother is a path. Not only the eldest brother, but also Stephen Chow and Jackie Chan, those guys who have reached the pinnacle of acting, which one was made by the role? Aren’t they basically the ones who made the role.”

At this moment, Zhu Yawen had a sudden realization.

Very few actors reach their peak because of the roles they play; they are mostly made more brilliant by the roles they play.

This tests an actor's ability to portray a character.

"Indeed, you should listen to more of Professor Xu's courses. Even if you don't pursue screenwriting or behind-the-scenes careers in the future, you will still gain something. Let's not talk about anything else. The closest resource for you should be your graduation play in your senior year. How you stand out in the graduation play and whether you can get ahead depends on your own abilities."

The closest to these students in front of me.

The graduation performance in the senior year is a fair opportunity for every student at Beijing Film Academy to shine, and it is considered a resource supported by the school.

After the graduation performance, once you leave campus, it's up to you to rely on your own abilities.

Unlike the prodigies in their class who have resources to act right after entering university, most people don't get their first role until their junior or even senior year of college.

You'll be entering your junior year soon too.

It's time to start thinking about my graduation performance.

Being mindful of potential dangers even in times of peace, and planning ahead for a rainy day, is something Wang Jinsong, as their homeroom teacher, wants to teach his students. It's not a rigid lecture, but rather a subtle and pervasive message.

Whether you listen or not, life is ultimately your own choice and your own path.
And next up is Li Xuan.

This was the student he valued most, the student who repeatedly told him that he could create miracles.

Looking at Li Xuan in front of him, Wang Jinsong's eyes were quite complicated.

This prodigy is truly adept at creating miracles.

This time.

If it weren't for someone sabotaging him by using the tactic of praising him to death, Li Xuan, this prodigy, could have truly carved out a bloody path different from his predecessors.

Fight your way out.

The path to catching up with the prodigies of the Class of '96.

It's a real shame now.

Unless he can truly achieve instant success, skipping the supporting role stage and using his absolute ability to create characters to reach the leading role.

If I could do that now, I should be able to leave my name on the wall of the Beijing Film Academy.

This is a man who can't be crushed by capital.

"You seem quite relaxed. Do you feel safe now?"

"It's not that dangerous, but it's definitely not safe either. After all, I'll only be truly, temporarily, safe when I can stand on my own before my senior year."

As for why Li Xuan felt he was temporarily safe.

If I don't associate with the old capitalists in Beijing's elite circles, it only means they've gotten a little dirty and are unhappy. Otherwise, what I'm about to do is dig them out of the ground.

Just like Stephen Chow did.

The whole world will target you.

"Let's not even talk about senior year; you haven't even passed the test of being praised to death yet."

"Don't worry, Teacher Wang, we'll wait until 'The Legend of Sword and Fairy' comes out."

This is an adaptation of the game.

Wang Jinsong didn't have high expectations.

Firstly, as a generation, we generally have a negative feeling towards games. Secondly, his work is questionable, especially considering his background in the Shanghai gaming community.

But now.

It's not the time to discuss the Legend of Sword and Fairy.

The Legend of the White Snake is here.

Muscular Fahai, Great Mighty Heavenly Dragon.

Li Xuan's popularity declined somewhat after the finale of "The World's Finest".

Your Uncle Li Xuan's drama.

It's not over yet!

(End of this chapter)